Composite tool structure



Jan. 28, 1964 H. H. WEICK 3, 19

COMPOSITE TOOL STRUCTURE Filed May 10, 1962 Id d 0 F a. lo

United States Patent Ofiice 3,119,423 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 3,119,423 COMPtESlTE TUQL STRUCTURE Heinz Hermann Weiclz, Rue de la Servette 94, Geneva, Switzerland Filed May 19, E632, Ser. No. 1@3,81 6 Claims. (1. 145--5tl) This invention relates to composite tool structures adapted ot perform selectively a plurality of operations.

It is a general object of this invention to provide improved composite multifunction tool structures.

Another object of this invention is to provide composite tool structures adapted to perform selectively percussion operations and rotary operations.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved tool structures adapted to drive in nails, tacks, staples, drive screws, etc., and also adapted to be used as a screwdriver, a drill, an awl, etc.

The foregoing and other general and special objects of the invention and advantages thereof will appear more clearly from the ensuing particular description of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

P16. 1 shows a basic tool unit partly in a longitudinal section and partly in elevation;

FIG. 2 shows the handle of the basic tool according to FIG. 1 partly in a longitudinal section and partly in a view seen at right angles to the direction in which FIG. 1 is seen;

FIG. 3 is a view, seen in the direction of arrow R of FIG. 1, and shown on a larger scale than FIG. 1, of the left end of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the left end of the structure of FIG. 1 upon being adapted for use as a screw driver, FIG. 4 being seen in the same direction as FIG. 1 and being partly a longitudinal section and partly an elevation;

FIG. 5 shows a drill unit adapted to be coupled with the basic tool unit of FIGS. 1 and 2 and is a View seen at right angles to the direction in which FIG. 4 is seen;

FIG. 5a shows the structure of FIG. 4 as well as the structure of FIG. 5 seen in the direction of arrow R of FIG. 4 and in the direction of arrow R of FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 shows an awl adapted to be coupled with the basic tool unit of FIGS. 1 and 2 and is a view seen in the same direction as FIGS. 1 and 4; and

FIG. 7 is a modification of the screw driver adapter shown in FIG. 4 seen in the same direction as FIGS. 1 and 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, reference numeral 1 has been applied to indicate an elongated substantially tubular handle having a right end, and a left end. Handle 1.: may be made of a synthetic resin and is in the form of a solid of revolution having a slightly convex generatrix. The outer surface of handle 1 is provided with a plurality of longitudinal ribs 1a, making it particularly convenient to grasp and manipulate handle 1. The left end of handle 1as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2-defines a groove 1b extending diametrically across the left end surface of handle 1. Groove 11) is subdivided by axial bore into two sections each arranged to one side of bore 10. Groove 1b is substantially semi-circular in cross-section, and forms a passageway, or tunnel, from one side of handle 1 to the other side thereof. The left end of handle 1 is further provided with a pair of longitudinal grooves 1d open at the left end and closed at the right end thereof as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. The aforementioned open end of grooves 1a. has been clearly shown in FiG. 3. Plunger 2 is arranged within handle 1 in coaxial relation thereto and movable relative to handle 1 in a direction longitudinally thereof. The right end of handle 1 is closed by a closing or bearing member 3 forming a bearing for plunger 2. A second bearing for plunger 2 is formed by the perforated partition 1e inside of handle 1. Thus plunger 2 rotatably supports handle 1, i.e. plunger 2 forms a shaft about which handle 1 may be rotated, whenever desired. Plunger 2 comprises two parts 2a, 2b which are joined together at 2c. Part 2a is formed by a permanent magnet and is provided near the left end thereof with a circular groove 2d. Part 2b supports at the right end thereof an operating knob 4. The inside of handle 1 houses a helical spring 5 of which one end rests against partition is of handle 1, whereas the other end of spring 5 rests against a washer or disc integral with plunger 2. Thus plunger 2 is biased from left to right as seen in FIG. 1.

If the basic tool shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, is to be used for driving in nails, tacks, etc., the head of the particular nail or tack is inserted into the open end of bore 10, and knob 4 is used to move plunger 2 toward the open end of bore 10, thus causing the head to be attracted by magnet 2a and drawn into handle 1 upon release of knob and expansion of spring 5. A subsequent blow upon knob 4 causes plunger 2 to move from its position shown in FIG. 1 to the left, driving the nail or tack afiixed to magnet 2a into any material arranged in front of the open end of bore 10.

It is also possible by means of the tool of FIGS. 1-3 to drive ordinary wood screws to a limited depth into :ood, in a similar fashion as nails or tacks are being fully driven into wood. if the basic tool of FIGS. 1-3 is used to drive wood screws into wood, or into a material having physical properties similar to those of wood, then the penetration is limited, as stated above, to the pointed end of the wood screw, and the latter must subsequently be fully screwed in by means of a screw driver. Thus the tool of FIGS. 1-3 is a pre-positioner for wood screws, and its pre-positioning operation must be followed up, or supplemented, by a screw driver operation. How such a screw driver operation can be performed with the same tool as that shown in FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, will be explained below more in detail.

An important application of. the basic tool of FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, is stapling of electric conductors, or cables, to appropriate supporting surfaces thus as plywood, wallboard, etc., by means of substantially U-shaped staples each having a pair of pointed prongs. Such staples may be inserted into grooves 1d in such a fashion that their pron portions are slidably guided inside of grooves 1d, while their web portion is firmly aflixed by magnetic attraction to magnet 2a. The tool is placed in such a position upon a cable, or other electric conductor, intended to be stapled against a support that the cable, or other conducor, passes through the passageway or tunnel defined by grooves 1b. A sharp blow upon knob 4'. upon having positioned the tool in this fashion drives the two prongs of the staple situated to opposite sides of the cable, or other electric conductor, into the support for the latter.

If the basic tool of FIGS. 1-3 is intended to be used as a screw driver, eg for fully driving wood screws into a material in which they have been pro-positioned as set forth above, then a screw driver adapter of the kind shown in FIG. 4 may be afixed to the left end of handle 1. The screw driver adapter shown in FIG. 4 comprises a screw driver proper separated from the tool of FIGS. 1-3, inelusive, as long as that tool is used as a percussion tool. Reference numeral 7 has been applied in FIG. 4 to indicate the screw driver proper. Screw driver '7 is integral with a su port 8 preferably made of an appropriate synthetic resin. Support 8 is in the shape of a solid of revolution and provided with a bore 8a coaxial to handle 1 and to plunger 2a, 2b inside of handle 1. Screw driver 7 is press-fitted into bore 8a of support 8. This may be achieved by driving screw driver 7 into a pre-fabricated support 8, or by casting support 8 around screw driver 7. Support 8 is provided with a pair of cam surfaces 81') (clearly shown in FIGS. and 5a) fitting into grooves lb of handle l and adapted to engage said grooves. Support 8 accommodates a metal sleeve or metal tube 9 integral with support 8 and coaxial to plunger 2a, 2b and screw driver '7 and defining a substantially circular groove 9a at the radially inner surface thereof. Groove 9a is engaged by the radially outer periphery of a resilient substantially annular coupling number 10.

Upon insertion of cams 81; into grooves 1b plunger 2a, 2b is moved against the bias of spring 5 from right to left, as seen in FIG. 1, until annular coupling member snaps into groove 2d, thus securing support 3 and screw driver 7 to handle 2 and maintaining plunger 2a, 2b and knob 4 against the bias of spring 5 in the left position thereof. Now the basic tool or percussion tool of FIGS. 1-3, inclusive, is converted into a brace type tool. Knob 4 may now be used to exert axial pressure upon a wood screw, or other screw, into the head of which screw driver 7 has been inserted. Rotation of handle 1 about plunger 2a, 2b transmits a torque from handle I. by the intermediary of grooves lb and cams 8b to screw driver 7.

The wood drill 11 shown in FIG. 5 and the awl 12 shown in FIG. 6 are secured in their respective support 3 in the same fashion as the screw driver 7 is secured in its support 8, and the supports 8 for the three tools 7, 11 and 12 are identical. Hence the support for tools 11 and 12 do not need to be described in detail.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the shaft of the screw driver '7' shown therein is provided with a plurality of radial projections 7a. The support 8 for screw driver 7' is in the shape of a solid of revolution and is provided with cam surfaces 8b fitting into the grooves 1b of the basic tool of FIGS. 1-3, inclusive. Support 8' is provided with a metal sleeve or metal tube 9' having a circular groove 9a engaged by the outer periphery of resilient coupling ring 10'. Support 8' defines an axial recess SC for receiving the shank of screw driver 7'. As clearly shown in FIG. 7 there is a substantial clearance between recess 80 and the shank of screw driver 7'. Recess 8c is provided with a plurality of grooves 8d extending in a direction longitudinally of screw driver 7' and recess 80'. The radial projections 7a of screw driver 7' engage grooves 8d and are frictionally secured therin. Screw driver 7 can be replaced by other rotary tools such as drills, awls, etc., having radial projections thereon similar to those with which screw driver 7 is provided.

It is thus apparent that the structures of FIGS. 4-6, in-

elusive, differ from that of FIG. 7 inasmuch as in the former each tool 7, ll, 12 is provided with a permanent tool support 8, whereas in the latter various tools may be inserted selectively in the same tool support 8'.

When the composite tool of FIGS. 13 is operated as a brace the axially inner surface of knob 4 abuts against the axially outer surface of bearing member 3. The tools according to this invention have the distinct advantage over conventional braces for operating screw drivers, etc. in that knob 4 does not rotate relative to the hand of the person operating the tool, thus avoiding friction between knob 4 and the hand imparting axial pressure upon the tool. The longitudinal ribs in on handle 1 make it particularly easy to spin handle 1 around plunger 2a, 2b when the tool is used as a screw driver, or for performing other rotary operations.

While one important dual function of the tool consists in pre-positioning wood screws by tacking and subsequent turning the same into their permanent position, it will be apparent from the foregoing that tools embodying this invention lend themselves to many other functions involving either percussion operations, or rotary operations.

It will be understood that although but a few embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, the invention is not limited thereto. It will also 4 he understood that the structures illustrated may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the accompanying claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A composite tool structure adapted to perform selectively percussion operations and rotary operations comprising in combination:

(a) an elongated substantially tubular handle defining a groove extending diametrically across one end surface of said handle;

(12) a plunger arranged within said handle in coaxial relation thereto movable relative to said handle in a direction longitudinally thereof and rotatably supporting said handle;

(0) an operating knob integral with said plunger on the end thereof remote from said one end surface of said handle;

(d) a spring inside said handle biasing said plunger in a direction longitudinally of said handle;

(e) a rotary tool adapted to be separated from said handle;

(7) a coupling responsive to movement of said plunger relative to said handle adapted to secure said tool to one end of said handle; and

g) a cam surface integral with said tool adapted to engage said groove in said handle to cause a torque to be transmitted from said handle to said tool upon rotation of said handle about said plunger.

2. A composite tool structure adapted to perform selectively percussion operations and rotary operations comprising in combination:

(a) an elongated substantially tubular handle defining a groove extending diametrically across one end surface of said handle;

(b) a plunger arranged within said handle in coaxial relation thereto movable relative to said handle in a direction longitudinally thereof and rotatably sup porting said handle;

(c) an operating knob integral with said plunger on the end thereof remote from said one end surface of said handle; I I

(d) a spring inside said handle biasing said plunger in a direction longitudinally of said handle;

(e) a rotary tool adapted to be separated from said handle;

(7) a support of a synthetic resin for said tool;

(g) a coupling responsive to movement of said plunger relative to said handle adapted to secure said support to one of said handle; and

(h) a pair of cam surfaces integral with said support adapted to engage said groove in said handle to cause a torque to be transmitted from said handle to said support and to said tool upon rotation of said handle about said plunger.

3. A composite tool structure adapted to perform selec tively percussion operations and rotary operations com prising in combination:

(a) an elongated substantially tubular handle defining a groove extending diametrically across one end surface of said handle;

(b) a plunger arranged within said handle in coaxial relation thereto movable relative to said handle in a direction longitudinally thereof and rotatably supporting said handle, said plunger defining a substan tially circular groove adjacent the end thereof adjacent said one end surface of said handle;

(c) an operating knob integral with said plunger on the end thereof remote from said one end surface of said handle;

(0.) a spring inside said handle biasing said plunger in:

a direction longitudinally of saidhandle;

(e) a rotary tool adapted to be: separated from said handle;

revolution;

(g) a resilient substantially annular coupling member inside said support adapted to enter into said groove in said plunger thereby coupling said support to said handle; and

(h) a pair of cam surfaces integral with said support adapted to engage said groove in said handle to cause a torque to be transmitted from said handle to said support and to said tool upon rotation of said handle about said plunger.

4. A composite tool structure as specified in claim 3 wherein said support is of a synthetic resin and said coupling member is arranged within a metal sleeve integral with said support and coaxial to said plunger and defining a substantially circular groove on the radially inner surface thereof engaged by the radially outer periphery of said coupling member.

5. A composite tool structure as specified in claim 3 wherein said tool is press-fitted into said support and permanently held in position therein.

6. A composite tool structure as specified in claim 3 wherein said support defines an axial recess for receiving one end of said tool, there being a clearance between said recess and said one end of said tool, and wherein said recess is provided with a plurality of grooves extending in a direction longitudinally of said recess and wherein said tool is provided with a plurality of radial projections adapted to engage said plurality of grooves thereby securing said one end of said tool to said support.

References ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,862,337 Emrick June 7, 1932 2,475,936 Allen July 12, 1949 2,871,899 Coyle et al. Feb. 3, 1959 2,990,739 Zifierer July 4, 1961 

1. A COMPOSITE TOOL STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO PERFORM SELECTIVELY PERCUSSION OPERATIONS AND ROTARY OPERATIONS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION: (A) AN ELONGATED SUBSTANTIALLY TUBULAR HANDLE DEFINING A GROOVE EXTENDING DIAMETRICALLY ACROSS ONE END SURFACE OF SAID HANDLE; (B) A PLUNGER ARRANGED WITHIN SAID HANDLE IN COAXIAL RELATION THERETO MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID HANDLE IN A DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF AND ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID HANDLE; (C) AN OPERATING KNOB INTEGRAL WITH SAID PLUNGER ON THE END THEREOF REMOTE FROM SAID ONE END SURFACE OF SAID HANDLE; (D) A SPRING INSIDE SAID HANDLE BIASING SAID PLUNGER IN A DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID HANDLE; (E) A ROTARY TOOL ADAPTED TO BE SEPARATED FROM SAID HANDLE; (F) A COUPLING RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID PLUNGER RELATIVE TO SAID HANDLE ADAPTED TO SECURE SAID TOOL TO ONE END OF SAID HANDLE; AND (G) A CAM SURFACE INTEGRAL WITH SAID TOOL ADAPTED TO ENGAGE SAID GROOVE IN SAID HANDLE TO CAUSE A TORQUE TO BE TRANSMITTED FROM SAID HANDLE TO SAID TOOL UPON ROTATION OF SAID HANDLE ABOUT SAID PLUNGER. 